For me this painting is somewhat allegorical. The painting shows the baths in it's current state of tumble down disrepair, but the reflection in the pool is the stylised baths in it's full former glory. A wonderful composition the present day decay and the former glory days of the Baths. I love it, very clever.

I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. - George Best 1946-2005

I think the artist is personifying the spirit of the baths building.Thus, it could be an invocation of the elderly state peering longingly into a held memory reflection as it remembers itself and wishes to be young again?

Spot on Gem, I guess that was the painters intention, reflection of the past in the pool, very clever as you said. Unfortunately I can't give the Artist credit because I took a screenshot a while back.

Micheál wrote: The former glory alluded to in the pool reflection was not just about "good maintenance", in its heyday, it was also filled with people - a feature absent from the painting.

I think was the intention, bleak, but there's something warming about the reflection. I get what you mean though, but how you portray people in that scene, a Ghost paddling, a "lifeguard" whacking me over the head for diving off the changing rooms wall again?

Micheál wrote:I like the clever portal picture but I have one reservation.

The former glory alluded to in the pool reflection was not just about "good maintenance", in its heyday, it was also filled with people - a feature absent from the painting.

My limited memories of the baths was of a place thronged with people of all ages. I say "limited" because I was of an age that led me to being banned by my mother for fear of catching polio.

M.

I'd forgotten about the polio scare!! A friend of ours caught it and it shook us all. Remember the sugar lump. We queued outside the clinic in Blackrock to get it. Like everything else I think there was to be a follow up but we never got it, Gawd, you also have reminded me about the school doctor ....we were all lined up in our underware...not a pretty sight in the Liberty bodice days and the nicks to the knees days...and the doctor gave us the full monty. None of your ole PC or modesty or human rights in those days. I don't even think they informed our parents.

I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.William Allen White

Rocker wrote: I'd forgotten about the polio scare!! A friend of ours caught it and it shook us all. Remember the sugar lump. We queued outside the clinic in Blackrock to get it. Like everything else I think there was to be a follow up but we never got it, Gawd, you also have reminded me about the school doctor ....we were all lined up in our underware...not a pretty sight in the Liberty bodice days and the nicks to the knees days...and the doctor gave us the full monty. None of your ole PC or modesty or human rights in those days. I don't even think they informed our parents.

I never heard of that Rocker. Was the Polio shot not one of our first vaccinations?

The polio vaccination was put into the sugar lump to make it more palatable for children. I think we got it about 1962 and HID remembers queueing up at the health centre on Upper Glenageary Road about the same time. It was the first big campaign to eradicate polio. I remember we also got lined up another time for the BCG vaccine as TB was rampant. For some reason I think they asked for parental consent for this BCG and my mother was sceptical so I never got vaccinated. Our neighbour got a bothed job done and it left a big bubble and scar on her arm!! those were the days...little pioneers that's us

another bit of useless info ..my mother always spoke of a scabies epidemic in the 30's and they were sent into Tara Street Baths stripped, painted with a whitewash mixture , dressed and sent home!! none of your ole modesty them days either. Everyone knew what you were walking with!!

I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.William Allen White

Folks, there's been a glitch in the registration process unbeknown to me until Harjoe couldn't log in, I even locked myself out trying to get his account working. Anyway Robert has changed a few things so Harjoe shouldn't have any problem now. I've messaged him but he's not on FB much so if anybody is in touch please let him know.Robert has also mentioned about upgrading the site to the newest software. The site will still look the same so I don't know if it's worth upgrading. He's checking a few things at the moment and will get back to me and I'll keep you posted.